JUST this week, Negros was treated and delighted with the news about our newest “heroes” and “heroines” in sports, education and beauty pageant. But their stories weren’t just about greatness veneered by triumphs and prizes. Rather, each has as a “touching” story of sacrifices, discipline and perseverance before reaching the podium of success. And what’s notable is that all of them were actually toughened by poverty.
It’s (really) nice to hear news about “Negros stars” in the recently-concluded 31st Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games) 2022 in Hanoi, VItenam. Too, it’s flattering to watch on national television a Negrense beauty crowned as Miss World Philippines 2022.
But it’s also heart-warming to read a story of a member of an indigenous peoples (IP) community in the hinterland of the province graduating from college with Latin honors. All these made us Negrsenses so proud and elated.
‘ECONOMIC FILLIP’
First, let’s take the case of Negrense boxers Rogen Ladon and James Palicte of Bago City and Ian Clark Bautista and Riza Pasuit of Binalbagan town.
Rogen and Ian reaped gold in the 48-52 kg and 47-kg classes for men’s boxing, respectively. James and Riza settled for bronze in the 57-63 kg class (men) and 54-57 kg class (women), correspondingly.
Though their stories speak of their “mightiness” in the ring, their common denominator is – they’re all products of poor families.
And the “beauty” behind their stories is that they’re never ashamed to tell the public how they weathered multi-challenges complicated by lots of sacrifices.
Candid as he is, Ian Clark said every jab he had thrown against his opponent(s) means an “economic fillip” for his family.
“Kada tapungol ko, puturo ka bata ko ang gina-dumdum ko.”
He said as an ordinary boy from a poor family in Barangay Payao, Binalbagan town, he has no choice but to stick to boxing, do better to help his parents, and improve their economic lot. Thus, joining the National Team is “heaven” for him.
“Nagsulod ko sa National Team nga wala bisan isa ka tennis/sapatos. Gani, ginsiling ko sa kaugalingon ko, himu-on ko ang tanan para magka-ayuhan ko para mabakal ko ang gusto ko nga sapatos,” confessed him.
What a revelation coming from a 27-year-old guy who was once ridiculed for his lean body.
“Yes, una ko nga boksing sa Panaad Festival, nalutos ko. Grabe hibi ko. Pero, sugod sadto, ginsiling ko sa kaugalingon ko nga ma-boxing gid ko kag ma-praktis gid todo.”
Now, he’s savoring the product of his “sweat-ness”.
Ian Clark’s next target: 2024 Paris Olympics.
LEAP FROM IMPOVERISHED LIVING
Another story of perseverance to conquest is that of Negros “Judo Queen” Khrizie Pabulayan.
Khrizie, 24, won silver in women’s judo- 52 kg. category.
I know Khrizie. Growing up in a poor fishing village of Latasan in EB Magalona town is not easy. Her mother, (Manang) Minda, is my best friend. Thus, I’m so glad to hear that after graduating from EB Magalona National High School, she landed as a varsity player in judo at the University of Sto. Tomas (UST) in Manila.
Now, I was informed that she’s with the Philippine Coast Guard – a big leap from an impoverished life by the sea.
Really, my heart melts with Khrizie’s great success.
WONDER WHITE CHRYSANTHEMUM
Nelly Amborocio’s story is also beyond captivating. She came from a poor family, and a member of the Bukidnon tribe, an indigenous people (IP) community in Sitio Katugason 2, Barangay Minoyan, Murcia town.
Nelly’s story hogged the headlines when she graduated Magna Cum Laude from Catholic Ming Yuan College in Murcia with the degree Bachelor of Science in Agriculture.
A product of flower farming in their sitio, Nelly was an academic scholar of the provincial government under the PAGKAON Category.
Asked what farming innovation she wants to introduce later, Nelly said, “I want to produce an organic fertilizer really suited for flower farming.”
Likewise, she likened herself to “Wonder White Chrysanthemum” – a breed of flower difficult to culture but wows everyone when it blooms.
Nelly stressed she’s not an “alien” when it comes to hardships, struggles and perseverance. But everything she experienced motivated her to study hard to be a “unique someone”.
Nelly considers agriculture as a noble field of study leading to great realization of the government’s thrust on food security. Thus, she urges her fellow youth, especially her fellow IPs, to really value or have passion in agriculture more than anything else.
MORE THAN AN INSPIRATION
The story of newly-crowned Miss World Philippines 2022 Gwendolyn Fourniol is also more than an inspiration among Negrenses. Though she was born and raised in France, she never forgot her roots in the province.
Gwen’s mom, Sim Bolivar, is also a product of poverty in Kabakalan City. And it is through poverty that Sim was spotted by Educational Research and Development Assistance (ERDA) Foundation, Inc.
ERDA, known for “Balik Paaralan” (Back to School) project, sponsored Sim’s college education at the Philippine Women University in Malate, Manila until she finished a degree in Psychology.
Then, luck brought Sim to London where she met and married Gwen’s father, a French professional, in Luxemburg.
In 2019, Gwen, decided to go home in Negros armed with formidable teachings from her mom all about poverty and her sacrifices before.
This “beauty and brains” was “guileless” about her background, especially how the valuable lessons out of poverty “fashioned” her to be “tough and feisty” in any battle in life she’s into now. She really stood tall during the final Q&A (question and answer) portion when she said that she advocates education as the “greatest weapon” against poverty.
BEST TEACHER, TRAINER, ADVISER
Assessing (all) their stories, my best summary then: poverty is REALLY the “best teacher, trainer and adviser”. The fame they have now is definitely crusted with struggles due to poverty. And these struggles polished and designed them to be braver, wiser and smarter. True! Because even world-renowned philosopher and thinker Eli Khamarov once stressed: “Poverty is like punishment for a crime you didn’t commit.”
Thus, it (poverty) is relatively cheap to address and incredibly expensive to ignore, per Clint Borgen, founder and president of The Borgen Project, an organization working to bring United States (US) political attention to global poverty.
On the whole, poverty is a broad term to “sip”. It connotes suffering that encompasses (almost) all aspects in life. But the great thing about poverty is that it impels us to say a vow: suficiente es suficiente (in Spanish) or enough is enough!
Above all, it really sharpens someone to greatness – no more, no less!/PN
